Medicinal + Native Plants of the Stocker Corridor Trail

Botanical Name: Artemesia californica

Plant Family: Asteraceae (sunflowers, daisies, chicory)

Traditional Use: One of the many folk remedies using California sagebrush involve using the leaves to make a tea compress or a liniment (a high-proof alcohol plant extraction used as a topical for pain relief) to soothe sore muscles. It’s also been documented for use as a tea or tincture (alcohol extraction for internal use) to aid in digestion, and to ward off colds and coughs.

This is one of the first plants you’ll encounter on the trail, with the first sighting right at the main entrance, and scattered along the hillside as you continue along. This round-ish shrub is most easily identified late winter through early summer when its silvery-green feathery leaves are soft and aromatic. For an amplified sensory experience, gently run your fingers over a leaf and smell for instant aromatherapy.

Botanical Name: Avena fatua

Plant Family: Poaceae (barley, millet, bamboo)

Traditional Use: As a food, wild oats have been traditionally harvested at its seed stage and milled for oatmeal and porridge. Medicinally, wild oats are an incredible medicine that calms the nervous system. The immature seed pods are tinctured (alcohol extract) when in their milky latex stage (aka milky oats) and taken internally to calm the nervous system. The stems, also known as oatstraw, and mature tops known as oat tops, are also great as teas to bring on the calm.

Two- to three-foot blades are known to pop up abundantly in the early spring showcasing tall stems with their signature teardrop shaped pods that hang downwards towards the earth. These die down as the summer approaches and go to seed.

Botanical Name: Ricinus communis

Plant Family: Euphorbiaceae (cassava, spurge)

Traditional Use: While the plant is considered highly toxic, traditionally, castor bean oil has been used medicinally for a range of ailments. A common folk remedy was to make a poultice out of castor oil to relieve pain, stimulate the liver, stimulate lymphatic circulation, reduce inflammation, and more! In its highly processed form, which is what you’ll currently find in stores, castor oil is safe to use externally.

The large, green palmate leaves are hard to miss since they are scattered throughout the northern hillside. In late spring and early summer, look for spiky round, green or red balls that are the seed pods.

Botanical Name: Foeniculum vulgare

Plant Family: Apiaceae (celery, parsley, carrots)

Traditional Use: Fennel has been used for centuries as a digestive aid and appetite suppressant. It has well documented use as a way to prevent stomach cramping and alleviate gas, and has been documented as improving mental alertness. It is traditionally prepared as an herbal tea for these purposes.

In the early spring, you’ll find the stalks shooting up with their signature feathery leaves that smell of licorice. As summer approaches, these plants tower over of the hillsides showcasing their bright yellow flowers and dainty leaves.

Botanical Name: Asclepias fascicularis

Plant Family: Asclepiadoideae

Traditional Use: It has been documented that there are over 300 medicinal uses for milkweed according to the University of Michigan’s Native American Ethnobotany database. This native plant has been used by Native Americans for centuries. The crushed milkweed leaves have been used externally to treat wounds, while the root has been made into a powder or juice and applied topically to treat wounds, boils, and rashes. There is also documentation that milkweed was often used to treat snakebites. Beyond medicine, the silky seed fibers, which are spun on a hand-held wooden spindle, have been made into yarn, and woven into fabric.

Small patches of milkweed can be found on the tail-end of the trail after you cross Valley Ridge Drive. May - October, keep an eye out for thin stalks about 4-feet high with clusters of white, pink or lavender flowers, and narrow leaves.